God’s Design for Life: The World of Animals

This curriculum follows God’s Design for Life:  The World of Animals available at Answers in Genesis.  One of the first books that you will need is a good animal encyclopedia. We looked at different choices at the library and decided that the National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia: 2,500 Animals with Photos, Maps, and More! suited our family. You may want to consider purchasing a copy because you will need this resource for a few months during this study and will be referring back to it throughout your homeschool journey. We ended up purchasing our own copy and it has been a great addition to our homeschool resources.

Another great resource is World of Animals by Martin Walters

There are some neat live animal webcams on the internet.

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UNIT 1: MAMMALS

Lesson 1:  The World of Animals
REVIEW: Living vs Non Living

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Lesson 2:  Vertebrates
GAME:  What’s Inside Animals?

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Lesson 3:  Mammals

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Lesson 4:  Mammals: Large & Small

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Additional Lesson: Large Mammals: Elephants and Giraffes

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Additional Lesson: Large Mammals: Bears

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Additional Lesson: Small Mammals

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Additional Lesson: Wolves, Coyotes, Foxes

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Additional Lesson: Cats

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Additional Lesson: Antlers

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Additional Lesson: Hooves

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Additional Lesson: Domestic Mammals

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Additional Lesson: Bats

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Lesson 5:  Monkeys & Apes
Special Feature:  Man & Monkeys

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Lesson 6:  Aquatic Mammals

This is a good place to remind your child about Jonah and his experience with a whale.

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Lesson 7:  Marsupials

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UNIT 2: BIRDS & FISH

Lesson 8:  Birds
This is a beautifully illustrated book to read simply for the joy of looking at the illustrations with your children.
READ ALOUD: The Bird Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta

Here is another ‘just for fun’ book. My kids love this guessing game book.
READ ALOUD:
Hatch! by Roxie Munro

For the preschoolers…
READ ALOUD: Birds by Kevin Henkes

Special Feature:  Charles Darwin

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Lesson 9:  Flight

Preschoolers enjoy this book about a baby blue jay learning to fly…
READ ALOUD: My Baby Blue Jays by John Berendt

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Lesson 10:  The Bird’s Digestive System

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Additional Lesson: Scavengers
READ ALOUD: Vulture View by April Pulley Sayre

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Additional Lesson: Birds of Prey

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Additional Lesson: Owls

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Additional Lesson: Water Birds

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Additional Lesson:  Flightless Birds

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Additional Lesson:  Turkeys and Chickens

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Additional Lesson: Songbirds
READ ALOUD: Birdsong by Audrey Wood

READ ALOUD: Bird Songs From Around the World by Les Beletsky

READ ALOUD: Bird Songs 250 North American Birds in Song by Les Beletsky

For some outdoor fun a bird call and a warbling bird whistle are needed.

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Additional Lesson: Bird Feeding and Bird Watching

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Lesson 11:  Fish

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Lesson 12:  Fins & Other Fish Anatomy

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Lesson 13:  Cartilaginous Fish

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Additional Lesson: Fishing and Saltwater vs Freshwater Fish

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UNIT 3: AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES

Lesson 14:  Amphibians

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Lesson 15:  Amphibian Metamorphosis

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Lesson 16:  Reptiles
Special Feature: When Did the Dinosaurs Live?

Additional Lesson:  Dinosaurs

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Lesson 17:  Snakes
Special Feature: Rattlesnakes

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Lesson 18:  Lizards

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Lesson 19:  Turtles & Crocodiles

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UNIT 4: ARTHROPODS

Lesson 20:  Invertebrates

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Lesson 21:  Arthropods

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Lesson 22:  Insects

READ ALOUD: Insect Detective by Steve Voake

READ ALOUD: The Big Bug Search by Usborne

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Lesson 23:  Insect Metamorphosis
VIDEO: Monarch Butterfly Lifecycle

Live Butterfly Pavilion Hatching Kit

CRAFT: Butterfly Feeder Plate and Bowl Set for the Garden

READ ALOUD: Caterpillar Caterpillar vy Vivian French

READ ALOUD: Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing Butterflies and Moths by Jim Arnosky

LIFE SKILLS: Woodworking: Butterfly House

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Lesson 24:  Arachnids

Lesson 25:  Crustaceans

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Lesson 26:  Myriapods

Learn About… Texas Insects by TPWD
*Bumblebee at Apple Tree Lane by Laura Gates Galvin
READ ALOUD: Honey in a Hive by
READ ALOUD: The Bee Tree by

HCDaddy Longlegs at Birch Lane by Beverley Brenna
*Firefly at Stony Brook Farm by Wendy Pfeffer
*Ladybug at Orchard Avenue by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
*Little Black Ant on Park Street by Janet Halfmann
READ ALOUD: Ant Cities by
*Monarch Butterfly of Aster Way by Elizabeth Ring

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UNIT 5: OTHER INVERTEBRATES

Lesson 27:  Mollusks

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Lesson 28:  Cnidarians

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Lesson 29:  Echinoderms

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Lesson 30:  Sponges

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Lesson 31:  Worms
READ ALOUD: Wonderful Worms by Linda

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UNIT 6: SIMPLE ORGANISMS

Lesson 32:  Kingdom Protista

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Lesson 33:  Kingdom Monera & Viruses
Special Feature:  Louis Pasteur—Got Milk?

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Additional Lesson:  Endangered Species
Texas Endangered Species Activity Book by TPWD

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Additional Lesson:  Nocturnal Animals/Animals at Night
Where Are the Night Animals? by Fraser, Mary Ann

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Additional Lesson:  Hibernation/Animals in Winter

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Additional Lesson:  Animal Tracking
Texas Tracks by TPWD

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Additional Lesson:  Animals Names: Male, Female, Young, and Groups

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Lesson 34 : Animal Notebook—Final Project

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Lesson 35:  Conclusion

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Additional Lesson: Mythical Animals

Live the Perissos Life!

Blessings,

Jennifer Hale and Marty Hale